Saturday, June 30, 2012

Metro Parks & Recreation:
During regular operating hours, the public is welcome at any parks facility to get out of the heat.

There are 23 Community Centers (including Regional Centers) throughout Davidson County. More information about the centers is online at: http://www.nashville.gov/parks/community/index.asp

This weekend:
Sat. & Sun., during regular operating hours, all golf course club houses are available for anyone that needs to cool off.
The Sportsplex will be open for cooling:
Saturday, 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Sunday, Noon-8 p.m.
The Regional Centers will be open for cooling only:
Saturday, open until 8 p.m.
Sunday, Noon-8 p.m.
Outside of regular operating hours, the centers will only be used for cooling centers, and not recreational activities.

Nashville Farmer’s Market:
Available for anyone to go and get out of the heat, Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 900 Rosa Parks Blvd
Salvation Army:

Starting this Thursday, June 28 through next Tuesday, July 3, they will have a water station under the Jefferson Street Bridge for the homeless community.
From this point forward, anytime the temperature is 100 degrees or higher, or if a Heat Advisory is issued, they will be at the bridge.

Nashville Rescue Mission:
Their current Men’s and Women’s shelters will serve as cooling centers for those that need it.
Their “Hot Patrol” will be out handing out water and doing welfare checks anytime it gets 90 degrees or higher.

Extreme Heat Tips
Stay cool and hydrated. Take advantage of swimming pools and other water areas.
The elderly and young children should limit their exposure to heat. Offer plenty of liquids to drink, keep them in the shade and/or in air conditioning, and take care not to overdress them.
Check on or make plans for someone to check on elderly relatives or neighbors to ensure they are staying cool and have access to air conditioning.
Get out of the heat and take advantage of air conditioned facilities. When outdoors, stay out of direct sunlight when possible and in the shade.
Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, but avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
Do not leave anyone inside a hot car during extreme heat, especially young children, and including pets.
Make sure to keep pets cool and hydrated, especially during peak hours of the day.

Air Conditioning Assistance
The Metro Action Commission (MAC) can assist with obtaining air conditioning units if you are a Davidson County resident:
- 62 years old or older, or,
- disabled, or,
- have a medical issue that requires you to be in a cool environment
If you meet the above criteria, you can call the Metro Action Commission for assistance at
(615) 862-8860, ext. 70100, or 70120.
Metro Action Commission is also looking for monetary donations or air conditioning units to assist with this program. If you are interested, you can contact (615) 862-8860, ext. 70120.

As the saying goes, "buyer beware". We cannot sit around lazily expecting everything to work right for us. Sure, the toaster toasts, the refrigerator keeps things frigged, zippers work properly time after time. So many things work as promised, it's easy to expect everything to do the same. But media is affected by personal perspective, and perspective can be fooled - that is unless people keep their guard up. And it's important to know that the below scenario isn't always created on purpose, sometimes distortions just happen. And sometimes the mistake is not in the media, but in our own heads and in the way we process information. Be vigilant then, testing, and retesting the validity of everything you experience.